Sunday, March 27, 2011

Who said you can't be happy over fifty? Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge

Waiting for a particular turn of events is a good way to head yourself into disappointment. Depending on anyone to make you happy, make you feel good or lift your spirit is a sure way to place yourself in isolation. When your joy is dependent on people and conditions, it is restricted. Joy must spring forth from you before it can surround you. Joy must be the way you walk and the way you speak to those who come into your realm. Joy is knowing you are doing what you can, the best you can, and you are feeling good about it. Joy is knowing time is on your side and wherever you are, you are the joy. Joy is taking a moment to say thank you, a day to do for self and an energy of sharing what you have. Joy is not what happens to you; it is what comes through you when you are conscious of the blessing you are.

Meet Intisar from North Carolina...This amazing woman has a heart larger than the state of North Carolina!!! Not only is she smart but she's pretty too!

I am what I am

I am a special education teacher, a middle child and a lifelong learner. Growing up I was the one trying to find where she fits in, in a family of amazing dancers, siblings who I considered geniuses, and over achievers. Then there was me; the child struggling in school, the one who had to work twice as hard in order to keep up. I even had to go through the embarrassment of night school. I was never good at anything I am and still not good at anything.

I am what I am

I am an aspiring principal in an ever-changing educational environment in one of the largest school districts in North Carolina. During the day I am a lover of literature and enjoy exposing my students to it. I am a disciplinarian, referral writing, behavior-changing, reward giving, consequence taking teacher day in and day out. When my classroom door is closed I am trying to connect and make relevant historical and literary concepts to my students. With the hopes that eventually they will want to make a permanent change in their lives. Exposure to these concepts will hopefully get them to realize that they are not the only people who have experienced hardship, tragedy or disabilities. But despite these circumstances people can achieve greatness and they can too. Thus, I am a young person trying to help others overcome their circumstances in a changing society.

I am what I am

I am a jogger,walker, runner, 5ker, half marathoner, and marathoner. With tennis shoes, tights and iPod I am free to think what I want, sing the way I want, and run the way I want. I am what I am. I ran track in high school but never won anything. August 2010, was my first race over a 5k. And, needless to say I have a lot more respect for people who dare show up and to run half marathons and marathons. My 61-year-old father inspires me to show up. Running marathons and half marathons was always on my bucket list and probably would still be there if it was for him.

It is what it is

However now I love it and can't see myself doing anything else. It is an amazing feeling to wake up extremely early, place the bib number on, grab my water pack, and lace up my shoes. I am one of those runners who must use the port-of-john once maybe twice prior to the race so an early race arrival is essential for me.

It is what it is

Then when I get to the starting line, I get in a zone. I am humble with the opportunity that has been placed before me. I realize that everyone is not capable to show up on race day whether their struggle is financial, physical or mental. It takes a lot to show up. Even though I have perfected showing up my goal is to improve my performance and strengthen myself with better training. I am still trying to find my road to greatness.

I am what I am

I am a yoga stretching, weightlifting, kick-boxing extremist whenever I can be. I workout to release the stress of my day. I workout to stay in my skinny jeans. I workout so I can eat what I want to eat. I workout so I can keep my happy.

Monday, March 21, 2011

I LOVE LA!!! Last year I did 106 marathons and out of 106, 9 or 10 were in the rain but this storm had to be the worst. I always find the positive and manage to finish. I finished 6:39:47.It wouldn't be LA without a celebrity or two running the marathon. I was in the green room with Chris O'Donnell and Josh Cox! Wow!!!

Maniac Lisa was in the green room too. At the start there was excitement in the air!!!

19,626 finishers!!!!

It may had been raining but we still know how to have fun! Who said you can't have fun in the rain??? (okay storm, monsoon)

It's Hollywood baby!!!

and the TV man!

Take a stroll down Rodeo Drive...

What kept me going? You know...the finishers medal!!!! I love LA!

I had a press conference with some amazing people:

Kelly Gneiting, 400 pound sumo wrestler champion finishes the LA marathon 9:48:52 and may have set a Guinness World record!

Marie-Louise Stenild ran 7 marathons, 7 days, 7 continents!

Joe "McRunner" D'Amico ate McDonalds for 30 days and breaks his marathon time 2:36:13!

Yolanda "Walking Diva" Holder broke the Guinness World record for the "Most Marathon Run in a Calendar Year" 2010 (106 marathons)...oh..that's me!!!

Dave Mari "Marathon Maniac celebrity" from Chicago and Joe "The Marathon Show" were at the expo and I was a guest speaker too.

I had a blast filming "Take a Stroll with the Walking Diva"

Dreams do come true! When your dreams become your life and your life becomes your dreams, you begin to see God all over them...

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Maria from Pleasanton California is a beautiful young woman! She's a working mom, a pretty wife, stepmom to twin teenager boys, and Maria always find time for herself by running/walking half marathons. I am so proud of Maria; she's my favorite and very pretty niece!!! Here's her amazing story.

I am 28 years old living in Pleasanton California where I live with my very caring and hardworking husband David. David has 2 amazingly bright 16 year old twin boys Jacob and Jordan whom I have the absolute pleasure of helping to raise. Jacob plays basketball and volleyball and Jordan runs track and cross country (with the convincing of his awesome stepmom). David and I have a gorgeous 4 year old baby girl who is the sunshine of our lives, and already the "diva" little sister that her big brothers adore. Our newest addition Jonah completes our home as an already independent and peaceful 11 month old baby boy. I am truly blessed to have a supportive husband and children.

I am very new to this marathon culture and I have only done 2 half marathons so far. Those were 2 of the most memorable experiences of my life. One day my aunt Yolanda sent me a flyer in the mail of the San Jose Rock and Roll Half Marathon and attached a cute note convincing me to do this marathon. After sleeping on it for a few days I accepted and trained for about 12 weeks. The day of the marathon I was so excited and happy! My husband and 3 kids (baby Jonah wasn't born yet) met me at mile 3,6, and 9 with signs and encouraging words. At the finish line I was very sore but so happy and emotional that I accomplished something so great. I hadn't been that proud of myself in years. In 2010 a few months after my baby boy was born I signed up to do the 2010 Rock n Roll Half Marathon San Jose again. At mile 7and 8 I began to feel very discouraged and tired until almost immediately after that I got 6 text messages from friends and family giving me support and encouragement. My husband told them to text me because he knows me so well and knew that mile 7 and 8 would be a tough one for me. (Man, I LOVE my David!!!!) I crossed the finish line beating my time by exactly 30 minutes!! This time my dad, stepmom, and 2 younger brothers were there to help my David and children cheer me on. The song "Don't Stop Believing" was the song that was playing when I finished. I was emotional and felt so proud of myself at that moment in time.

I LOVE having my teenagers and babies to take care of, trust me when I say they make me a better person, but after working my fulltime job at a bank and picking everyone up from school, sports practices and getting the little ones together for bed- it does get hectic. David works as a chiropractor during the day 3 times a week and works as restaurant manager in an upscale restaurant in SF at night. So we take full advantage of our little time together. Sometimes I get so busy as a mother with all of my daily duties with my kids and my fulltime job at the bank that I forget what its like to do things to make myself feel proud. I enjoy being proud of everyone else and their accomplishments that I forget my own. This is only the beginning for me. My aunt Yolanda and her marathon accomplishments are truly inspiring and I'm so happy that she thought of me and sent me that flyer in the mail. It opened up my heart to a new joy and love of running/walking miles. I am definitely looking forward to the Rock n Roll Half Marathon 2011 and hope to beat my time by another 30 minutes! I am actually looking forward to my "Dirty Thirty" birthday in 2 years where my goal will be to do a FULL marathon.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Who said you can't have fun over fifty??? I had big fun in Hollywood yesterday!!! My friends and I had a blast at KTLA 5 Morning Show!!! We were "celebrities" for the day...Thank you Todd, Steve, Felma, Ralph, Peter, Deo, Mitch, Brenda, Dieadra, Irlan and Jean for a fun day in Hollywood! I love LA!!!

We were Rock Stars for the day!!!

I even had a makeup lady!!!

We all wanted pictures with the beautiful Michaela!!! She's much prettier in person...

Irlan, Mitch and Steve doing what they do best...having fun!!!

The food was so good!

The green room wasn't green...why do they call it the green room?

That was my day in Hollywood...

Keep Believing in Yourself and Your Dreams!

Every goal that has ever been reached began with just one step...and the belief that it could be attained. Dreams really can come true, but they are most often the result of hard work, determination, and persistence. When the end of the journey seems impossible to reach, all you need to do is take one more step. Stay focused on your goal and remember that each small step will bring you a little closer. When the road becomes hard to travel and it feels as if you'll never reach the end...Look deep inside your heart and you will find strength you never knew you had.